8 Tips for Keeping Well During the Holidays

The holidays are for spending time with family and friends. For indulging in your favourite foods, and your routine may be thrown for a loop.

That’s ok though! Don’t stress, we got this!

Don’t let the holiday season get you feeling crummy, let’s look and feel our best with a few simple tricks!

1. Make a Plan

   Plan out your week. Schedule in meal prep, workouts and time for self care. Having something on paper, booked in like a meeting in your day, may help you check those things off the list. If you know you have a family dinner, consider planning for it and bringing a dish that you enjoy that is supportive of your goals and dietary habits.

2. Go Easy on Yourself

   Don't go too hard on yourself! Enjoy the dessert, skip the workout! Years from now, you won't remember those things, but you will remember the memories you made with friends and family. Ditch the guilt. Which is easier said than done I know. I always make room for my grandma’s apple pie at Christmas, it’s just something that is non negotiable! I enjoy it, and move on with the rest of my meal lineup of nutrient dense food options.

3. Simplify

   Drink water, eat your veggies, prioritize restful sleep, move your body in a way that feels good for you. Don't over complicate it. If the only workout you can get in throughout the day is a long walk on your lunch break, that's ok! Do what you can with the time that you have.

4. Manage Stress

   We know now how much STRESS can impact us! Elevated cortisol levels resulting from chronic stress have been associated with the following;

   • Increased appetite and food cravings

   • Poor digestion

   • Increased anxiety

   • Increased depression

   • Mood swings (anger and irritability)

   • Reduced libido

   AND MORE! Manage stress by prioritizing self care, moving your body, participating in a hobby, or getting out in nature!

5. Hydrate

   Keep hydrated! This is something super small that seriously adds up.

6. Move your Body

   Get some movement in your day! Even if it’s only 10 minutes of your day. Endorphins are chemical messengers in the brain that are released when you exercise. Regular exercise can positively impact the serotonin levels in the brain, which boots your mood and overall sense of wellbeing, as well as improve appetite and sleep cycles.

7. Nourish Yourself

   For at lease one meal of the day, think about the most nourishing option available to you. If its breakfast, maybe including a nutrient dense smoothie, or a veggie packed frittata, or blood sugar balancing chia pudding (follow along on Instagram for some recipe inspiration). For lunch it may be a nourishing soup or salad!

8. Don’t Skip Meals

   You may think it wise to skip a meal to “save up calories” for a big meal later in the day. This will just leave you irritable, fatigued and more likely to overeat (and thus not digest efficiently) later on in the day.

Heading into the holidays with health goals on your mind can leave you feeling stressed and sometimes overwhelmed. How do you handle social events where the food is outside of your normal routine? Will you still have time for your workouts? How should you handle the situation?

I hope the above tips help, but above all else, enjoy yourself, make memories and remember that a meal or two outside of your normal routine won’t derail your progress!

If you have been thinking about getting to the bottom of your health goals with a personal cheerleader like myself on your team, click below to book yourself a discovery call for January!